Cable-making machine



Oct. 28, I924.

E. A. CONNER CABLE MAKING MACHINE 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 anoentoz Filed July 10.

35% WXXW Oct. 28. 1924.

E. A. CONNER CABLE MAKING MACHINE Filed July 10 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 28 #974.

E. A. CONNER CABLE MAKING MACHINE Filed July 10 L922 .4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 28, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD A. CONNER, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN CHAIN COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CABLE-MARIN G MACHINE.

Application filed July 10,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. CoNNnu, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fail-field, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cable-Making Machines, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, is a specification.

One object of the invention is the construction of a cable-forming machine which will involve in its operation the formin of the strands into helices before laying t em in position to constitute a componentpart of the cable. i i. Another object is the construction of. a cable-forming machine that will operate in the manner above described and that will form the strands into helices without twisting, viz, by a continuous bending operation not involving the subjection of the wire to angular distortion with respect to its axis.

B way of explanation in connection with the oregoing statement, attention is called to the fact that in the manufacture of the usual wire rope composed of a core and surrounding strands the outer or surrounding strands are bent upon a line, which, previous to the bending, constituted a helix on the surface of the wire. This process obviously involves a twisting of the wire. In the method carried out by my machine the line of con tact of each outer strand with the'core is a. straight line parallel with the axis of the wire, considering the wire in its condition prior to the pre-forming and laying. In the conventional method first above described the result is an outer strand in which each fibre has been alternately sub- 40 jected to tension and compression. In the process carried out by my machine, on the contrary, some fibres are subjected to compression and some to tension, but there is no transition from compression to tension in the same fibre.

I .am aware that previous attempts have been made to form cables by processes which purport to attain the same result as the process carried out by my machine, but

in these attempts the helices were formed during the process of laying the strand, that is, they were the result of bending the strands against and about the core. Cable so made, however, failed to lie flat or A tively high speeds,

1922. Serial Nd. 574,103.

straight when released, which made it not only unsuitable fdr many purposes but also inconvenient to handle. 7

Another object of the invention is the construction of a cable-making machine capable of functioning-in the manner above described if desired and which is also characterized by adaptability for operation at relathis result being accomplished by a highly efiicient means of balancing the rotating parts and confinin the radii of gyration of those parts to relatively small values.

Another object is the construction of a cable-makingabove described in which the wire-supply carrying members rotate on a common axis.

Another object is the construction of a cable-making machine in which rovision is made for winding a reserve spoo of supply wire contemporaneously with the drawing off of wire to form the,cable.

Another object is the construction of, a. cable-making machine provided with demountable wire-supply. spools.

Another object is the construction of a cable-making machine of such character that the wire-supply spools all rotate on the same axis.

Another object is the construction of a cable-making machine in which all the wiresupply spools rotate on the same axis and in which, furthermore, provision is made for easily spoo s and interchanging them.

Another object is the construction of a. cable-making machine of such character that all the wire-supply spools rotate on the same axis and in which, furthermore, provision is made for removing the wire-sup ly spools without the necessity of dismounting any other parts of the machine.

Another object is vthe construction of a cable-making machine which will make cable that will lie dead when not under tension.

Another object is the construction of a cable-making machine which will make cable characterized by the fact that any given fibre, of each strand is subjected to the same kind of stress throughout, that is; compression or tensile stress, as the case may be.

Another object is the construction of a machine that will make cable characterized and quickly removing the wire-supply machine of the character by the fact that the outer strands hug the core closely by virtue of a setfproduced in forming them. a

Referring to the drawings: 7 Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine,

showing, however, only two of the stranding units, the remaining stranding units being omitted for the reason that they are inall res ects similar to those shown.

igure 2 is a view, in side elevation, of the machine. Fogure 3 is a detailed view of one ofthe stranding units, showing Eertain parts broken away for the sake of clearness. i Figure 4 is a vertical section on the line H of Figure 1.

wire-suppl7y other.

Figu

forming nozzle and supp y-wire' guide pulley.

Figure 6 is an end view of one of the spools. Figure is a side view of one of the wiresupply spools showing the complementary halves of the same disengaged from one an- The machine as shown and described here- V in consists of a series of what I term stranding units, the number of stranding units varying with the number of strands of which the cable is to be composed and, in

' addition, mechanism for drawing the core as the strands are formed and laid and for drawing olf the cable as it is completed. As the stranding units are all similar and may vary in number asdesired, only two are shown in the drawings and a description of one of these which I indicate in Figures 1 and 2 by the letter A will suffice for all.

The machine shown in the drawing is adapted for making cable com osed of a core strand surrounded by a suita le number of outer strands. It is to be understood,

however, that the incorporation in the cable of a core strand is not essential to the operation of the machine nor to the structure of the completed cable. The presence of a core strand is, however, usually desired, especially in a cable which consists of more than three or atthe mostfour outer strands, and

-'therefore. I have illustrated a machine adapted for making a cable witha core.

The machine includes for convenience in mountin the rotating parts a table 1 supported y suitable standards 2. 9n the table 1 are'erected a series of stranding units 3 of which that indicated by the letter A re 5 is a detached vieW,.showing the hollow spindle of the strandin" unit, the preother and therefore the 'core wiref together with the outer strands as they are successively laid may be drawn continuously through the spindles. The core wire mechanism may consist of the core-wire supply reel 5 suit ably mounted by an convenient means and the drawin oif mec anism indicated by'the cipal function of the drawing-0E mechanismis to' maintain the core and cable under suitable tension and to move it at a speed coordinated with the speeds of the several stranding" units. A suitable drawing-01f mechanism may consist of the pulleys 6 and 7, the ulley 6 being a drive pulley mounted. on a s ,aft 8, whichi in turn, carries beveled pinion 9. The beve ed pinion 9 meshes with the beveled pinion 10 mounted on the shaft 11, which, in turn, carries the gear 12. The gear 12 meshes with the pinion 13 mounted on the lay shaft 23, and, as will be obvious, rotation of the lay shaft causes the pulley 6 ed a sprocket 14, andon the shaft 15, which carries pulley 7 is mounted another sp1'o'ck-' et 16. The sprockets are connected by an endless sprocket chain-.17'in the usual manner and consequently as the pulley 6 ro-' tates, the.pulley 7 rotates at the same speed.

The tension on the completed cable is created byopassing. it asufiicient number of times ut the pulleys 6 and 7, whereby suitable friction is caused. As the cable passes off the pulley 6, it may be reeled or disposed of in any desired manner.

letter B 1n Figures 1 and'2. *The'printo be rotated. On the shaft 8'is also mount- The moving parts of each stranding unit are mounted on a air of standards 18 and 19 which support earings 20 and 21. The

bearing 21 supports journal 22 of the outer member 24 o a suitable draw clutch, the

journal being hollow and rotatable in the bearing 21. The fact that the journal is hollow makes it adaptable also as one bearing for the spindle 3, the other bearing for the spindle 3 being the bearing 20. On each of the hollow spindles are mounted two spools for containing a su ply of wire, one of which, namely, that indicated by the letter C, maybe termed the wire-supply spool, and that indicated by 'the letter D the reserve wire-supply spool. These spools are, however, constructed in all substantial respects alike and; are interchangeable for the purposeshereinafter more particularly described.

A detailed view of one of these spools is shown in Figures 6 and 7, from which it appears that it is composed of complementary parts, 25 and 26, which are adapted to be assembled on the spindle and secured to- "gether by engaging lugs 27 on the part 26 with the lugs 28 on the part 25. Clearance indicated by the numeral 29 is provided to allowfor the interlocking of the lugs, and a slidable collar is mounted on the shaft and I cc is capable of being clamped in any desired position by means of-a set-screw 31. This collar serves to keep the wire-supply spools in position on the spindle. It is obvious that when the spool C is free from wire it may be demounted by loosening the setscrew 31, movin the collar 30 along the shaft, then slipping the part 25 a sufiicient distance along the spindle to dlsengage the lugs, whereupon the spool may be removed from the spindle in separate halves. Thereupon the others 01 D, which may be assumed to i be fi led with wire, may be moved'up along the spindle to take the place of the spool G. The spool C may be then reassembled in place of, the spool f D whereupon it is in position to rece1ve wire in the manner hereinafter described. Fixedly mounted on the spindle 3 1s a flyer, composed of arms 32 and 33, the arm 32 carrying the grooved rolls 34, 35 and 36, which serve to guide the wire from the wiresupply spool C in the proper manner and direction to be guided into the die or preformin nozzle which is hereinafter further referre to. The mounting of the arms of the flyer may be accomplished by r gidly attaching them to the hub 37 which is apart of the bearing 38. The hub 15 fixedly mounted on the spindle by any convenient means such as the key 39. The bearing 38 also carries eccentrically mounted within it the helical die or pre-forming nozzle 39, which may consist of a rod of suitable material provided with a helical groove 40. The other arm 33 of the fiyer carries a brake shoe 41 adapted to exert slight pressure ,on the arm of the particular spool of the pair which is delivering wire for the forming of the cable, that is, for example, in Figure 1 the spool C. The motion of the spool C is therefore a resultant of two motions, one of which is the rotation of the spindle and the other is the rotation of the spool C on the spindle latter motion being determined by the rate at which wire is drawn through the pre-forming nozzle to be laid on the cable.

-On theother hand, the reserve wire-supply spool D is normally fixedly mounted onthe spindle, this mounting, however, being through the medium of the clutch hereinbefore mentioned, which is preferably adapted to be automatically released at a predetermined time. The clutch, as stated above, may consist of the outer member 24, which may be part of the bearing 22, the inner member 42 and the slide member 43 carrying the tapered rolls 44. The clutch may be provided with a control lever 45 and.

collar 46, the control lever 45 being pivoted at 47 and carrying the roll 48. Lever 49 is pivoted at 50 and is providedwith a cam 51. The lever 45 is spring-pressed by the spring 50 to hold the clutch in release, but

as the lever 49 is also spring-pressed by the s ring 53 to maintain the cam 51 against me rolls 48, the release of the clutch does not take place until the lever 49 is forced backwardly against the tension of spring 53,

which occurs only when the diameter of the coil 54 of wire has reached a pro-determined maximum.

The lay shaft, which has driving connection with all of the stranding units as well as with the tensioning device, is indicated by the numeral 23. It carries gears 55, which, in turn, mesh with gears 56 mounted on shaft 57, which also carries the gear 58, so that the gears 57 and 58 rotate together. The gear 58 meshes with the gear 59, which is rigidly connected to the bearing 22, and the gear 56 meshes with the gear 60, whirh is r1gidly mounted on the spindle 3. The result of this construction is that as the lay shaft rotates it operates to rotate the spindle and, consequently, the flyer. At the same time, assuming that the spool D 7 has not received a full load of wire, the spool D is rotated independently of the motion of the spindle, thus drawing wire from the reel 61 or from any other suitable source of su ply. As soon as the diameter of the coil of wire of spool D has reached a predetermined dimension, which is fixed by the needs of the particular case in hand, the clutch is released and the wire is cut. The spool D is then ready to replace the spool C as soon as the supply of wire on the latter has become exhausted. In order to make rigid connection between the inner member of the clutch and the spools. the inner member of the clutch is squared at the end as shown at 62, the squared end being adapted to fit a square mortise G3 in the spool. To facilitate independent motion of the s 0015 C and D the bushing 49 may e interposed between them.

The die or pie-forming nozzle 39 may. as above stated, consist of a rod provided with a helical groove of proper depth to accommodate the particular wire in use and of suitable pitch to properly pre-form the wire for the particular cable in process of manufacture. Obviously, the distance from the bottom of the groove 40 to the axis of the die determines the diameter of the helix formed and it is preferable that the diameter of this helix be slightly less than the diameter of the core wire, in order to insure that the former shall hug the latter closely.

It is to be understood that the speeds of the various parts are coordinated with each other as accurately as possible; viz: the ratios of the gears which drive the fiyer and the reserve wire-supply spool are such that the wire-supply spool is certain to be filled in ample time in advance of the exhausting of the wire on the wire-supply spool G. The speed of the tension mechanism is regulated by employing driving gears of suitable ratio to draw the core through-the several spindles at the proper speed to enable the outer strands to be laid closely and regularly. Furthermore, as has already been stated, the pitch of the pre-formmg nozzle is such that the helices thereby formed will be coordinated with the speed at which the cable is drawn through the spindles. All of these quantities vary, as will be readily understood, with the character of cable that is in process of manufacture, the principal determining elements being the number of strands of which it 1s composed and the pitch of the helices.

Assuming the inter-relation of parts as in the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the preferred mode of op eration is to rotate the shaft 3 and consequently the reserve wire supply spool in a clockwise direction, the parts being considered as viewed from the position of the preforming nozzle. and in the direction of the clutch mechanism, that is to say, from right to left with reference to the drawings. The preforming nozzle conseguently likewise revolves about the axis 0 the shaft 3 in a clockwise direction. As wire is drawn from the wire supply spool C, the latter rotates in a counter-clockwise direction with respect to the shaft, although its direction of rotation with respect to any fixed radius is of course in clockwise direction. In other words, its motion is the resultant of the two components, viz: the clockwise rotation of the shaft on which it is mounted. and the counter-clockwise motion with respect to the shaft, the latter being of course the lesser of the two motions and the resultant motion being consequently in a clockwise direction. The winding operation takes place by rotation of the reserve wire supply spool in a clockwise direction. The wire as it is drawn from the wire supply spool C passes through the preforming nozzle which is adapted to form it into a right-hand helix and the thus preformed helix is laid accordingly 'to form a right-hand strand or cable. Of course, it is to be understood that the foregoing description of the mode of operation of the machine is intended to apply only to the particular construction shown in the drawings. A left-hand strand or cable may, of course, be formed if desired by re-arrangement of parts such as is well within the, ability of the ordinary machinist. In the foregoing description, I' h ave referred to the preforming member as a nozzle; It is to be understood, however, that the particular type of preforming member shown is a preferred form onl and that any other suitable device may e utilized for the purpose of bending the wire into suitable helical form...

Having thus described my invention, and with the knowledge that changes and modifications may be made thatv will nevertheless not depart from the spirit of the invention, I claim:

1. In the process of making stranded cable, the steps which comprise drawing the several strands through nozzles adapted to form them into helices and laying them, as they emerge from said nozzles, in position to form component parts of the cable.

2. In the process of making stranded cable, the steps which comprise drawing the several strands through nozzles adapted to form them into helices and successively layin them in position as they emerge from said nozzles to form component parts of the cable.

3. In the process of making stranded cables, the steps which comprise drawing the several strands through nozzles adapted to form them into helices, laying them in position as they emerge from, said nozzles .to form component parts of the cable and at the same time rotating said nozzles about the axis of the cable at a speed coordinated with the speed at which said strands are drawn through said nozzles.

4. In the process of making stranded cable, the steps which comprise drawing the several strands through nozzles adaptedto form them into helices and laying them in position as they emerge from said nozzles to form component parts of the cable and at the same time rotating said nozzles about the axis of said cable substantially one revolution to each convolution of the helix.

5. In a machine for making stranded cable, a wire supply spool having its axis of rotation in t e axis of the cable to be formed, a helix-forming nozzle eccentrically mounted with respect to said axis, means .for causing said nozzle to revolve about said axis, and means for drawing a strand from said wire supply spool and through said nozzle to form a helix.

6. In a machine for making stranded cable, 2. wire supply spool having its axis of rotation in the axis of the cable to be formed and mounted to rotate idly, a helix-forming nozzle eccentrically mounted with respect to said axis, means or causing said nozzle to revolve about said axis, and means for drawing a strand from said wire supply spool and thence through said nozzle to form a helix.

7. In a -machine for making stranded and havin its axis of rotation in the axis of the cab e to be formed, a wire supply spool likewise having its axis of rotation in the axis of the cable to be formed and mounted to rotate idly, a helix-forming nozzle eccentricall mounted with respect to said axis, means or causing said nozzle to revolve about said axis and for causing ro- 7 cable, a fiyer carrying wire guiding means the axis of the cable to be formed, a wire a helix-forming nozzle supply spool likewise having its axis of rotation in the axis of the cable to be formed,

eccentric-ally mounted with respect to said axis, means for causing said nozzle to revolve about said axis and forcausing rotation of said flyer, and

' means for drawing a strand from said wire supply spool and through said nozzle.

In a machine for making stranded cable, a flyer, anti-friction w-ire guiding means carried by said fiyer,.a wire supply spool having its axis of rotation in the axis of the cable to be formed and mounted to rotate idly, a brake also carried by said fiyer and adapted to bear on saidw ire supply spool to retard the free rotation thereof, a helix-forming nozzle eccentrically mounted with respect to said axis, means for causing said nozzle to revolve about said axis an for causing rotation of said flyer, and means for drawing a strand from said wire supply spool, thence through said wire guiding means, and thence through said nozzle to form a helix. 10. In a machine for making stranded cable, a series of stranding units arranged in tandem, each stranding unit including a hollow spindle, said spindles being co-axial, a wire suppl spool mounted to rotate idly on said spin lo, a. helix-forming nozzle mounted on said spindle eccentrically with respect to the axis thereof, means for cause ing said spindle to rotate and consequently said nozzle to revolve about said axis, and means for drawing a strand from said wire supply spool and thence through said nozale to form a helix.

11. In a machine for making stranded cable, a series of stranding units arranged in tandem, each stranding unit includin a hollow spindle, said spindles being co-axial, a wire supply spool mounted to rotate idly on said spindle, a helix-forming nozzle mounted on said spindle eccentrically with respect to the axis thereof, means for causing said spindle to rotate and consequently said nozzle to revolve about said axis, means for drawing a strand from said wire supply spool and thence through said nozzle to form a helix, said means being adapted to prevent rotation of said helix.

12. In a machine for making stranded cable, a series of stranding units arranged in tandem, each of said stranding unit including a hollow spindle, a wire supply spool mounted to rotate idly on said spindle, a, flyer mounted on said spindle and carrying antifriction wire guiding means and also speed retarding means to operate on said wire supthrough said nozzle, means for causing rota-' tion of said spindle and consequently revolution of the said nozzle about the axis of said spindle, and means for drawing a strand from said wire supply spool, thence through guiding means, and thence through said nozzle.

13. In a stranding unit forming a component part of a machine for making stranded cable, a rotatably mounted spindle, a wire supply *spool carried by said spindle, said who supply spool being composed of two complementary members, the plane of division of said members passing through the axis of said spool, and means for locking said members together on said spindle and unlocking them.

14. In a stranding unit forming a component part of a machine for making stranded cable, a rotatably mounted spindle, a wire supply spool carried by said spindle,

said wire supply spool being composed of two complementary members, the plane of division of said members passing through the axis of said spool, and means for lockin said members together on said spindle, sai means consistingtof interlocking lugs.

15. In a stranding unit forming a component part of a machine for making stranded cable, a rotatably mounted spindle, a wire supply said spindle,

said wire supply spool being composed of two complementary members, the plane of'division of said members passing through the axis of said spool, and means for locking said members together on said spindle.

16. In a stranding unit forming a component part of a machine for making stranded cable, spindle, a wire supply spool slidably mounted on said spindle, said wire supply spool being composed of two complementary members, the plane of. division of said members "passing through the axis of said spool, means for locking said members together on said spindle, a reserve wire supply spool also slidably mounted on said spindle and capable of independent rotation with respect thereto and also with respect to said first mentioned spool, and means for imparting rotary motion to said reserve wire supply spool.

17. In a stranding unit forming a component part of a machine for making stranded cable, spindle, a wire supply spool slidably mounted on said spindle, said wire supply spool being composed of two complementary spool slidably mounted on.

a rotatably mounted hollow a rotatably mounted hollow 'members passin spool, means members, the plane of division of said through the axis of said or looking said members together on said spindle, a reserve wire supply spool also rotatably mounted on said spindle and capable of indgpendent rotation with respect thereto and so with respect to said first mentioned spool, means for imparting rotary motion to said reserve wire supply spool, said means consisting of a bushing on said spindle, clutch connection between said bushing and said reserve Wire supply spool and means for iinpartmg rotary motion to said bushing.

18. In a machine for making stranded cable, a lay shaft, a series of stranding units arran ed 1n tandem, hollow spindles in said stran ing units, the axes of said spindles being in alinement one with another, a rotatably mounted bushing constituting one bearing for said spindle, a plurality of wire supply spools slidably and rotatably' mounted on said spindle, clutch connection between, the said bushing and one of said spools, means for transmitting power from the said lay shaft to said bushin to impart rotary motion -to the same an thence to said last mentioned spool, a flyer mounted on said spindle and carrying anti-friction wire guiding means. and also a brake adapted to bear on the other of said spools, a helix forming nozzle, also carried by said flyer, said nozzle being eccentrically mounted with respect to the axis of said shaft, and means operated by said lay shaft for drawing a strand from said last mentioned spool, thence through said wire guide and thence through said nozzle.

19. In a machine for making stranded cable, a lay shaft, a series of stranding units arranged in tandem, hollow spindles in said stranding units the axes of said spindles being in alinement one with another, a rotatably mounted bushing constituting one bearing for said spindle, a plurality of wire supply spools slidably and rotatably mounted on: said spindle, clutch connection between the said bushing and one of said spools, means for transmitting power from the said lay shaft to said bushing to impart rotary motion to the same and thence to said last mentioned spool, a flyer mounted on said spindle and carrying anti-friction wire guiding means and also a brake 1 adapted to bear on the other of said spools,

a helix forming nozzle also carried by said flyer, said nozzle. being eccentrically mounted with respect to the axis of said shaft, means operated by said lay shaft for drawing a strand from said last mentioned spool, thence through said wire guide and thence through saidnozzle, the said wire supply spools being each composed of two complementary members, the plane of division of said members passing through the axis of said spindle, and means for detachabl engaging the two complementary halves of said members.

20.'In a machine for making stranded cable, a wiresupply spool composed of complementary halves divided on a plane passin through the axis tliereof, sac of said ha ves being provided with lugs adapted/to engage lugs on the other of said halves.

21. In a machine for making stranded cable, a wire supply spool composed of coming through the axis of said spool, and means for detachably engaging said halves one with another. 4 22. In a machine folumaking'stranded cable, aspindle, a plurality of wire supply spools mounted on said spindle each of said spools being composed of complementary halves, means for detachably en aging said halves, means for drawing wire rom one of said spools'in the process of laying the same on a cable in process of manufacture, and means for supplying'wire to the other of said spools as the same is rotated.

24:. In a machine for making stranded cable, a stranding unit including a hollow spindle, means for continuously drawing a core wire through said hollow spindle, said spindle carrying means for supplying wire to be wrapped about said core as the same travels through said spindle.

25. In a machine for making stranded cable, a stranding unit consisting of a hollow spindle, a wire supply spool rotatably mounted on said spindle, means for drawing a core wire continuously through said hollow spindle, a preforming member eccent-rically mounted on said spindle, and means for imparting rotary motion to said spindle.

26. In a machine for making stranded cable, a stranding unit consistin of a hollow spindle, a wire supply spool slidably androtatably mounted on said spindle, a helixformin nozzle eccentrically mounted on said spindle, means carried by said spindle for guiding wire from said spool to-said nozzle, and means for drawing a core through said shaft and also wire from said spool through said nozzle. I

27. Ina machine for making stranded cable, a rotatably mounted hollow spindle, a plurality of wire supply spools demountably and rotatably carried by said spindle, said spools being interchangeable as to position, a flyer fixedly mounted on said spindle, said flyer being provided with anti-friction means for guiding wire, a brake carried by said flyer? and adapted to exert yielding pressure plementary halves separated on a plane passmeans for causing said nozzle to revolve about said axis.

29. In a machine for making stranded ca ble. a loosely mounted" wire supply spool, a helix-forming nozzle mounted to revolve about the axis of said-wire supply spool,

wire guiding means between said spool and.

said nozzle, means for drawing wire from said spool through said guiding means and thence through said nozzle, and means for causing revolution of said guiding means, and said nozzle about the axis of said s 001.

30. In a machine for making strande cable, a plurality of stranding units each consisting of a loosely mounted wire supply spool, a hollow spindle, a helix-formin nozzle revolubly mounted eccentrically on said spindle, means for causingrotation of said spindle and means for drawing wire from said wire supply spool through said nozzle, said means also drawing a core wire through said spindle, the several units composing said stranding machine being arranged so that all of the spindles are co-axial.

31. In a machine for making stranded cable, a plurality of stranding units each consisting of a hollow spindle, the said spindles being co-axial and spaced from one another, a wire supply spool loosely mounted on each of said spindles, a helix-formin nozzle eccentrically mounted near the end of each of said spindles, means for causing rotation of said spindles, and means for drawing a core wire through said hollow spindles and also for drawing wire from said wire supply spools through said helex-forming nozzles, and means forpreventing said spools from rotating on said spindles at a speed greater than as determined by the rate at which wire is drawn therefrom.

32'. In a machine for making stranded cable, a plurality of stranding units, each of said stranding units comprising a hollow spindle, the said hollow spindles being coaxial and spaced from one another, a pair of interchangeable wire supply spools mounted loosely and independently of each other on each of said spindles, a helix-forming nozzle ecce-ntrically mounted on each of said spindles, means for causing rotation of said spindles, and means for drawing a core wire continuously through said spindles, each of said wire supply spools consistin of two complementary arts and retaine on the spindle by detac able means, and means for causing rotation of one of said wire su ply spools independently of the rotation of the other and independently of the rotation of said s indle.

33. n a machine for making stranded cable, a stranding unit comprising a spindle, a wire supply s 001 and a reserve wire supply spool bot loosely mounted thereon, a bushing forming one of the bearings of said spindle and rotatably mounted, said bushing having clutch connection with said reserve wire supply spool, and means for releasing said clutch when the diameterof a coil of wire wound thereon has attained a predetermined value.

34. In a machine for making stranded cable, a stranding'unit comprising a spindle, a wire supply spool and a reserve wire supplfl spool both loosely mounted thereon, 21. us ing forming one of the bearings of said spindle and rotatably mounted, said bushing having clutch connection with said reserve wire supply spool, means for releasing said clutch when the diameter of a coil of wire on said reserve wire supply spool has attained a spools being interchangeable and each being composed of two complementary halves detachably engaged toenclose said spindle.

35. In a machine for making stranded cable, a. stranding unit comprising a rotatably mounted spindle, a wire supply spool and a reserve Wire supply spool both loosely mounted thereon and capable of rotation independently of each other, means for rotating said reserve wire suppl spool independently of the rotation 0 said spindle predeterminedquantity, the said and of said wire supply spool for a predetermined period, the said spools each being composed of two complementary parts detachably connected together to enclose said spindle.

36. In a machine for making stranded cable, a stranding unit comprising a rotatably mounted spindle, a wire supply spool and a reserve wire suppl spool both loosely mounted thereon and capable of rotation independently of each other, means for rotating said reserve wire supply spool independently of the rotation of said spindle and of said wire sup-ply spool for a predetermined period, the said spools each being composed of two complementary partsdetachably connected together to enclose said spindle, a. helix forming nozzle eccentrically mounted with respect to said spindle, means for causing said nozzle to revolve about the axis of said shaft, and means for drawing wire from said wire supply spool through said nozzle.

37. In a machine for making stranded cable, a strandin unit comprising a ,rotatably mounted .ho low spindle, a wire 'suply spool and a reservezwire supply-spool both loosely 'mounted thereon and capable 20:2 rotation independently of each other,

V .plyspool indepen ently-iof. the rota'tion of means for. rotatin said reserve ,wire' supsaidsha'ft and of ;said' W-ire suppl spool fora predetermined period, thesai spools each being composed of-two complementary] parts detachablyconnected together to .enclose said spindle, a helixforming nozzleeccent-ricallymounted with respect tolsaid lfspindle, means for causing said nozzle to revolve aboutthe axis of-said shaft, means for drawing .wire from said wirensupply' v spool through said nozzle,- and means for drawing a core wire through said shaft.

. 38. In a machine for making stranded, cable, a plurality of helix-forming nozzles,

sources of wire supply, means for forcing cable, a. plurality of helix-forming nozzles, sources of wire supply, means for forcing wire through' saidnozzles, means :for re.-

ceiving the finished cable,,and means for,

' producing relative rotation 1 between said nozzles and said receiving'means, the speed of said rotationbeing coordinated with the speed with which saidwire is forced through a said nozzles. r

7 In .a machine for making stranded cable; .a plurality oi lhelix-formmg nozzles disposed substantially parallel with" the cable line, sources of wire supply, means for-propellingwire throu '-h said nozzles, means for receiving-the finis edcableand meansior producing relative rotation as between said nozzles" and said receivi-n means, the axis of said rotation being in the 'saidcable line.

7. 41.2In a machine for makin stranded cable, a plurality of'helix-for'mmg nozzles disposed substantially parallelwith the cable :line of the machine,sourcesof 'wire supply, means for propelling wire through said nozzles, meansfor receivmg thee-finished cable and means for producing relative rotation between said nozzles and sources of wire supply on the one hand and said receiving means on the other.

42. In a machine for making stranded cable, a plurality of helix-forming nozzles disposed substantially parallel with the cableline of the machine, sourcesof wire sup-,

p1y,,means for propelling wire throughsaid inozzles, means for receiving the finished cable, means for, producin relative rotation between said nozzles an sources of Mrs supply on the one hand and said receiving 'means-on the other, the said speed of rotation being coordinated with the speed with Which'the wire is forced through the said nozzles to produce substantially one revolution of said receiving means to each (convolution of the heli'cally-formed wire.

EDWARD A. CONNER. 

